JB-Singapore RTS project to begin in November, says Johor MB

GELANG PATAH: Work on the Johor Baru-Singapore Transit Link System (RTS) project is expected to start this November, says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

He said Malaysia and Singapore would be signing the agreement on the project, linking Johor Baru and Woodlands North in Singapore, at the end of the month.

"The long-awaited project will boost Johor's economy as it will create an economic spill-over especially in Iskandar Malaysia," he told reporters here.

Hasni said this during a site visit to the 7.5km two-lane two-way Sungai Pulai bridge costing about RM700mil.

MMC Engineering Sdn Bhd together with joint venture partner CHEC Construction (M) Sdn Bhd are the main contractors for the bridge project.

The bridge is scheduled for completion in October next year and will cut travelling time from Pontian to Johor Baru from an hour now to about 15 minutes.

Hasni said the train depot for the maintenance of the train coaches would be built at a site in Wadihana in Johor Baru instead of the initial plan of building it in Mandai, Singapore.

He said the train depot spans about 2.83ha, adding it would create between 400 and 500 job opportunities for locals.

Separately, Hasni said work on the Gemas-Johor Baru electric double-tracking train project was progressing well at 48% completion to date.

He said land acquisition for the multi-billion ringgit project including relocating squatters along the railway track has been resolved.

"The project is slated to be completed by 2022," said Hasni.